A contaminated additive found naturally in breastmilk is responsible for the recent recall of infant formula worldwide. An unprecedented spate of recalls worldwide of infant formula produced by food companies like Nestlé, Danone, Lactalis and others have set alarm bells ringing. The cause of the recall is the detection of cereulide – a toxin produced by the bacteria Bacillus cereus. Cereulide ingestion can cause vomiting and stomach cramps. Some 60 countries are affected and an estimated 100 children in Europe (up to 36 in Switzerland alone) have shown symptoms consistent with cereulide contamination. The toxin was found in a supplement called arachidonic acid (ARA) oil commonly added to infant formula. The French agriculture ministry has identified Chinese company Cabio Biotech as the supplier of the contaminated ARA oil used by several infant formula manufacturers. On February 9, the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office stated that batches of infant formula of the ...
